Is It Your Thyroid? Thyroid Supplement Information

Today, hypothyroidism (low thyroid) affects 15 million people; the vast majority of them are unsuspecting women. Thyroid health also can affect men, but the ratio is considered to be 3 to 1, female to male. Low thyroid or hypothyroidism can mean sluggishness, "brain fog"," weight gain or difficulty losing weight, fatigue, problems with bowel function (primarily constipation), changes in skin (dry skin) with a predisposition to eczema/dermatitis, changes in the hair, and nails that are brittle or break easily. Even low moods and depression can be due to low thyroid. Probably the most common symptom of low thyroid function is cold hands and feet. You have heard this from a friend or someone you know whom always complains of being cold when others are totally comfortable.

So, What Causes This Thyroid Malfunction?
Basically, we know all forms of stress whether physical (like surgery or motor vehicle accidents), emotional (loss of a loved one, divorce or financial change) or psychological stress can directly impact the thyroid. Other common offenders are hormone imbalances such as adrenal insufficiency, estrogen/progesterone changes, new chemicals and pollutants in our environment, and yes, last but not least, genetics (good old family history).

What To Do About It?
If you feel that you might have subclinical hypothyroidism or low thyroid as highlighted by the cluster of symptoms above, you can do the following:

1. Check your Basal Body Temperature - do this by placing a mercury thermometer under your arm for 5 minutes before getting out of bed each morning (for 3 mornings in a row). Note: Normal body temperature is 98.6° F. If your temperatures are less than 97.8° F consistently, then most likely your thyroid is underactive.
2. See your health care provider and discuss your findings. They may want to repeat a Thyroid profile blood test with TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone). Remember, even if your TSH falls in the normal laboratory reference range, it does not mean your thyroid is in balance.

Hypothyroidism, Knowing When To Get Help.
In a nutshell, the function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine, found in seafood and seaweed, and convert it into thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). They are released into the blood stream and transported throughout the body where they control metabolism (substances broken down to yield energy). The thyroid gland regulates the temperature within the body. Malfunctions of the gland are hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroid hormone resulting in an overactive metabolic state, and hypothyroidism, when the thyroid gland does not produce enough of the thyroid hormone resulting in an underactive metabolic state.

Today we will focus on hypothyroidism since it tends to be overlooked. Hypothyroidism can be misunderstood as depression and simple weight gain. It is estimated that 15% of all depression cases are actually cases of undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Often times the blood tests used to measure the levels of thyroid hormones show in the normal range, which is a possible reason that hypothyroidism gets missed. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists is now reevaluating the "normal range" for thyroid function, which is a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) level of normally 5.

Thyroid imbalances can be caused by such factors as environmental pollutants, exposure to radiation, dietary excesses or insufficiencies, medications, stress and yeast infections. Be sure to provide your thyroid with the needed nutrients in order to maintain its' health. Växa's Thyroid Formula gives a boost to the thyroid, which in turn increases metabolism and energy levels. This formula is a rich source of iodine and contains iron, calcium and zinc. Also in the Thyroid Formula are herbs such as Bayberry, Kelp, Black Walnut and Ginseng, along with homeopathic remedies and essential trace minerals that help maintain healthy levels of the thyroid hormone.

Undiagnosed hypothyroidism can lead to high cholesterol, severe depression, obesity, heart disease, heart failure and stroke. Be sure not to ignore symptoms of hypothyroidism and if you do suspect it, be persistent with your doctor. Don't just settle for a simple blood test. Knowing is half of the battle. Also, start to nourish your thyroid today with Växa's Thyroid Formula. Being proactive is the means for achieving and maintaining good health.

Supplementing With Essential Fatty Acids - Important For Health Today and Tomorrow

Since May is the National Stroke Awareness month, we thought we would share the importance of supplementing your diet with Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) and how it can be a preventative measure against hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, among other things.

EFAs are needed every second by most tissue activities in the body including regulating pressure in the blood vessels, dilating or constricting blood vessels and preventing blood cells from clumping together (blood clots that can be a cause of heart attack and stroke). Although EFAs are "essential" to the body, they are not made by the body and must be supplied through diet or supplementation. The daily amount required by the body should be 10-20% of the total caloric intake. There are two types of EFAs: omega-3 and omega-6. Omega-3 contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and is found in cold-water fish, fish oil and certain unsaturated vegetable oils. Omega-6 contains linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and is found in raw nuts, seeds, legumes and unsaturated vegetable oils. The most important and needed EFA is linoleic acid. It is also important to know that EFAs need to be consumed in liquid oils (not heated, processed, or cooked) or taken as a nutritional supplement.

EFAs improve the skin and hair, reduce blood pressure, aid in the prevention of arthritis, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as reduce the risk of blood clot formations. It is estimated that 1 million Americans are disabled by peripheral vascular disease (diseases involving the blood vessels in the extremities) each year, according to the Prescription for Nutritional Healing. As the person gets older, he or she also increases the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis of the coronary or cerebral arteries, which can lead to heart attacks or strokes. It is also important to consume, through diet or supplementation, antioxidants, which scavenge free radicals that can accumulate in the body from the environment; foods we eat as well as smoking and/or second hand smoke, and cause arterial damage.

Omegacin offers 29 bioavailable Omega 3-6-9 Fatty Acids and essential lipids, plus phytosterols (helps with growth and regeneration of cells) and antioxidants. Also in Omegacin+ is Co-Enzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which strengthens and protects the heart against cardiovascular disorders, heart disease, and stroke. Yes, supplementing with EFAs is important for the prevention of stroke and heart disease (usually associated with the elderly), but it is also important food for the brain and important for healthy skin and hair (all important issues for the young and middle-aged), in fact EFAs are especially crucial during pregnancy and lactation, and during infancy (critical for the development of the nervous system, brain and retina, as well as fetal growth).

Pay attention to your health today and orderOmegacin and antioxidant supplement, Anti-Oxin. In our bodies we have nearly 76,000 miles of arteries, veins and capillaries bringing life to every organ, muscle, finger, and fiber of our existence.
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The Facts About Parasites

Many times a patient will go see their primary care physician when they are "not feeling right." After the doctor performs a physical exam, orders some routine blood work, the results return a few days later and are reported "within normal limits" yet, you know something is out of balance within the body. Maybe, you experience symptoms like dull headache, fatigue, brain fog, abdominal bloats, cramping or even IBS-like symptoms with alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. In addition, you may have noted your skin itching more or frequent outbreaks of eczema or dermatitis. This story happens more often than you know. Everyone is prone to contracting parasites, as parasites are very opportunistic organisms. Parasites contribute to chronic and degenerative health problems by secreting toxins and stealing vital nutrients from the body. Parasites can exaggerate existing health problems. So, the next time you are feeling just "not feeling right" or experiencing symptoms that just don't seem to disappear, entertain the possibility of parasites and openly discuss it with your health care provider. Below, you will discover more real facts and pertinent recommendations to help you maintain optimum health.

There are over 1,000 known human parasites that can live in your intestinal tract, your blood, or many of your organs including your brain and lungs. Most people are not aware that they may have an infestation of parasites (often more than one type) nor are they aware of the dangers posed to their health by parasites. Gastrointestinal complaints such as pain, diarrhea, nausea, and perianal itching are common symptoms in many intestinal parasitic infestations. Other symptoms may be slight inflammation of the abdomen as well as unrelated pains and aches.

The Largest Intestinal Fluke: Fasciolopsis buski Flukes attach themselves within the mucosa of the small intestine and can livie up to one year per adult organism. Although most parasitic infections come from our food and water sources, parasites may also be transmitted by human or animal contact. Our pets carry parasite eggs in their fur and we can contract parasitic infections by touching them, then touching our mouths, eyes, or nose without washing our hands first. This infection can be transmitted even further when we touch a doorknob or some other commonly touched surface in the home, therefore, those who live in the same household may all have the same parasitic infections, whether they are currently symptomatic or not. Children can be very susceptible to parasites since they handle pets often as well as play in sand boxes and dirt.

Other means of ingesting parasitic eggs is by handling stool and not washing hands, as time goes by this person will undoubtedly touch their fingers to their mouth, nose, eyes, or they will touch a commonly used surface. Also, eating undercooked meat/seafood or unwashed fruits/vegetables grown in contaminated soil or irrigated by contaminated water can cause parasitic infections.

Some common parasites that live in the human hosts are: Protozoan, Flukes (flatworms), Roundworms and Tapeworms. Some diseases and conditions that can be caused or made worse by parasitic infections are: gastrointestinal discomforts, pneumonia, malaria, toxoplasmosis, and obstruction of the appendix (appendicitis) or pancreatic ducts (pancreatitis) just to name a few.

Human parasitic infections are more common than you think and often under diagnosed, in fact, it is estimated that 85% of population already has contracted parasites. Prevention is of utmost importance. Cooking meat and fish thoroughly and practicing good hygiene are two ways to help prevent a parasitic infection.

Parasitin helps to remove most major intestinal parasites, including tapeworms, roundworms, flukes and protozoans. Parasitin+ is a Homeopathic parasite cleanse, designed to rid your body of a wide range of human parasites. Also helpful is Växa's Colon-Aid, which helps to kill and expel worms, and inhibit the adhesion of disease cells such as bacteria, fungi and parasites. ReFlora, which contains a special complex of 10 different and beneficial bacteria, plus phytomedicinals and other nutrients, can help the body . restore healthy bacterial flora and remove toxins (important due to ammonia being secreted by dying parasites).